Principal Tim Phares sits at his desk. He said he is conducting classroom observations for new teachers this year. “When I go in and do a scheduled observation,” Phares said, “I’ll spend 45 to 50 minutes up to an hour in a room.”

As the school transitions back from fall break, Principal Tim Phares said he will continue to conduct classroom observations for new teachers.

“I observe every teacher that is brand new to our school and spend time with them in their classroom and then talk about the lesson I observe and see (the) kid interactions,” Phares said.

CHS hired many new teachers this year, according to Phares.

“I think we are around 27 or (there) might have been 31 new teachers,” he said. “We’re fully staffed as far as certified staff, sometimes that comes up in conversations.”

“We get a mix of people transitioning into the profession, we get people that have several years of teaching experience and then we’re getting some students right out of college,” he said.

Matthew Cinkoske, a new world language teacher, said he enjoyed Carmel’s atmosphere and felt the administration was supportive.

“As a new teacher, I really enjoy Carmel. The students have been mostly great. I enjoy working with all the other world language teachers. It’s nice having a very supportive administration staff,” Cinkoske said. “I’ve had my short observation. I haven’t had my long one yet, but that’ll be coming up in this second nine weeks here.”

Outside of CHS, Phares said he is excited to attend a meeting with other large-school administrators in Chicago.

“(CHS is) part of a large-school consortium, and I work with principals all across the country. We have a meeting coming up, or a couple day visit, up in Chicago. We’re visiting the two schools that are part of the consortium up there,” Phares said. “I’m excited to go and learn and see a different large high school that’s successful academically and in activities, like we are.”